Multiple disc changing and playing apparatus having disk rack boards, a carrier and a recorder generator

ABSTRACT

A disc changer is provided to support each of a plurality of bare discs for recording and/or regeneration on a separate disc rack board without requiring a cartridge. The disc rack boards are positioned so as to form a vertical stack. A carrier is provided which moves only in the vertical direction along the vertical stack of disc rack boards. Furthermore, a plurality of disc drives is provided in a vertical stack opposing the vertical stack of disc rack boards. A hand is provided which moves only in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the carrier moves, and operates to transfer one of the plurality of bare discs between one of the plurality of disc rack boards and the carrier and between one of the plurality of disc drives and the carrier. Thus, the number of discs which may be loaded is increased while the size of the disc changer is minimized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a disc changer for automatic changing of adisc to a disc drive using bare discs for recording and/or regeneration,for example, optical discs such as CD-ROM and magneto-optic (MO) disc.

2 Description of Related Art

Conventionally, disc changers mostly uses a disc cartridge which is thecartridge which contains a disc, and automatically changes a disc to adisc drive.

In the case in which some information is recorded and/or regeneratedsimultaneously on a plurality of disc cartridges using a plurality ofdisc drives arranged vertically, a plurality of rack containers arrangedvertically for containing disc cartridges and a plurality of disc drivesarranged vertically are placed in two lines with front sides in the samedirection, and a disc cartridge conveyer moves in the first directionand the second direction perpendicular each other in the horizontalplane and in the vertical direction to convey a disc cartridge betweenthe plurality of rack containers arranged vertically and disc drives.

However, such a conventional disc changer using disc cartridges isdisadvantageously restricted in disc containing capacity, because thevolume of a disc cartridge is larger than that of a bare disc.

A conveyer which conveys a disc cartridge in three directions of theorthogonal axes has a complex structure, costs alot, and requires alarge space for conveying, thus the minimization of a disc changer islimited disadvantageously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is accomplished to solve the above mentionedproblem, and the object of the invention is to provide a disc changerhaving a capability of containing many discs while the disc changer isminimized in size.

The present invention provides a disc changer to achieve the objectcomprising; a plurality of disc rack boards provided vertically forholding bare discs for recording and/or regeneration, one or more ofdisc drives for recording and/or regenerating the bare discs providedfacing to said disc rack boards, a carrier which moves only onedirection in a space defined by the disc rack boards and disc drives,and a hand mounted on the carrier which moves only in the directionperpendicular to the moving direction of the carrier for transferring inonly one direction the bare disc between a disc rack board and thecarrier and between a disc drive and the carrier.

In the disc changer of the present invention structured as describedherein above, bare discs for recording and/or regenerating are placed ona plurality of disc rack boards without using cartridge, a carrier whichmoves only one direction in a space defined by the disc rack boards anddisc drives is provided, and a hand mounted on the carrier which movesonly in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of thecarrier is provided, and a bare disc is transferred by the hand betweena disc rack board and the carrier and between the carrier and discdrive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for illustrating the starting of operationfor taking out a disc from a disc rack board by the hand on the carrierin an embodiment of a disc changer in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for illustrating the operation for takingout a disc from a disc rack board by the hand on the carrier followingto FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for illustrating the operation for takingout a disc from a disc rack board by the hand on the carrier followingto FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for illustrating the ending of theoperation for taking out from a disc rack board to the carrier by thehand on the carrier following to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for illustrating the operation for placinga disc in a disc drive by the hand on the carrier following to FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for illustrating the operation for placinga disc in a disc drive by the hand on the carrier following to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for illustrating the ending of theoperation for placing a disc in a disc drive by the hand on the carrierfollowing to FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a top view of each of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a top view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a top view of each of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a top view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway top view of a whole disc changer.

FIG. 14 is a partially cutaway rear view of a whole disc changer takenon line A1--A1 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of a whole disc changer taken on lineA2--A2 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a partially cutaway side elevation view taken on line A3--A3of FIG. 14 for illustrating the partition in the disc changer.

FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway rear elevation view similar to FIG. 13for illustrating the sealed area and unsealed area in the disc changer.

FIG. 18 is a top view taken on line A4--A4 of FIG. 17 for illustratingthe sealed area and unsealed area in the disc changer.

FIG. 19 is a partially cutaway rear elevation view for describing thefirst modification in arrangement of disc rack boards and disc drives ofthe disc changer.

FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway top view of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a partially cutaway rear elevation view for describing thesecond modification in arrangement of disc rack boards and disc drivesof the disc changer.

FIG. 22 is a partially cutaway top view of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a rear elevation view for illustrating the carrier mechanism.

FIG. 24 is a side view taken on line A5--A5 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a top view for illustrating the hand moving mechanism on thecarrier.

FIG. 26 is a partially cutaway side view taken on line B1--B1 of FIG.25.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken on line B2--B2 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 28A is a top view of the disc detecting mechanism on a disc rackboard when there is no disc,

FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view taken on line C1--C1 of FIG. 28A.

FIG. 29A is a top view of the disc detecting mechanism on a disc rackboard when there is a disc,

FIG. 29B is a cross-sectional view taken on line C2--C2 of FIG. 29A.

FIG. 30A is a cross-sectional view taken on line C3--C3 of FIG. 29 forillustrating the disc detecting mechanism on a disc rack board, and

FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view taken on line B3--B3 of FIG. 25 forillustrating the disc holder of the hand.

FIG. 31 is a top view for illustrating the first modification of thedisc supports of a disc rack board.

FIG. 32 is a top view for illustrating the second modification of thedisc supports of a disc rack board.

FIG. 33 is a partially cutaway top view for illustrating the sealedstructure for the recorder and/or regenerator of a disc drive.

FIG. 34A is a partially cutaway side view taken on line D1--D1 of FIG.33, and

FIG. 34B is a partially cutaway side view taken on line D2--D2 of FIG.33.

FIG. 35A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line D3--D3 ofFIG. 33 for illustrating the damper of a disc drive, and

FIG. 35B is a partially cutaway top view taken on line D4--D4 of FIG.35A.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view for illustrating the mounting mechanismfor mounting a disc rack board to a board base.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a board base in FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 is a top view of FIG. 36.

FIG. 39 is a front elevation view taken on line E1--E1 of FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is a partially cutaway side view taken on line E2--E2 of FIG.38.

FIG. 41 is an enlarged partially cutaway top view for illustrating theinserting guide for inserting a disc rack board.

FIG. 42 is a side view taken on line E3--E3 of FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a top view for illustrating the floating preventing mechanismon the carrier.

FIG. 44 is a partially cutaway side view taken on line F1--F1 of FIG.43.

FIG. 45 is a partially cutaway top view of the whole disc changer forillustrating the mounting method for mounting a disc drive on a drivetable.

FIG. 46 is a partially cutaway top view for illustrating the mountingmechanism for mounting a disc drive on a drive table.

FIG. 47 is a partially cutaway top view for illustrating the starting ofmounting operation for mounting a disc drive on a drive table.

FIG. 48 is a partially cutaway top view for illustrating the operationon the way for mounting a disc drive on a drive table following FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 is a partially cutaway top view for illustrating the finishingof operation for mounting a disc drive on a drive table following FIG.48.

FIG. 50A is a top view taken on line F2--F2 of FIG. 46,

FIG. 50B is a front elevation view taken on line F3--F3 of FIG. 48, and

FIG. 50C is a front elevation view taken on line F4--F4 of FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is a partially cutaway top view for illustrating the withdrawingof the disc tray of the disc-in-out port.

FIG. 52A is a partially cutaway top view for illustrating the insertionof the disc tray of the disc-in-out port, and

FIG. 52B is a side view taken on line G1--G1 of FIG. 52A.

FIG. 53A is a side view taken on line G2--G2 of FIG. 51, and FIG. 53B isa side view taken on line G3--G3 of FIG. 52.

FIG. 54 is a top view for illustrating the limiter mechanism of the disctray of the disc-in-out port.

FIG. 55 is a partially cutaway side view taken on line G4--G4 of FIG.54.

FIG. 56 is a partially cutaway side view taken on line G5--G5 of FIG.54.

FIG. 57 is a perspective view for illustrating the Y-position detectingdevice of a disc rack board by the carrier.

FIG. 58 is a top view for illustrating X-position detecting device of adisc rack board and the carrier.

FIG. 59 is a top view for illustrating the operation of X-positiondetecting device of FIG. 58.

FIG. 60 is a side view for illustrating the disc rack board positiondetecting sensor of a board base of the X-position detecting device ofFIG. 58.

FIGS. 61A and 61B are schematic side views for illustrating theoperation for taking out the hand from a disc rack board when a powersupply is started up.

FIGS. 62A and 62B are schematic side views for illustrating theoperation for taking out the hand following FIGS. 61A and 61B.

FIGS. 63A and 63B are schematic side views for illustrating theoperation for taking out the hand from a disc drive when a power supplyis started up.

FIGS. 64A and 64B are schematic side views for illustrating theoperation for taking out the hand from a disc drive following FIGS. 63Aand 63B.

FIGS. 65A and 65B are schematic side views for illustrating theoperation for taking out the hand from a disc drive following FIGS. 64Aand 64B.

FIG. 66 is a partially cutaway top view for illustrating alight-reflecting plate mounted on a recorder and/or regenerator in adisc drive and a light-reflecting sensor mounted on the carrier.

FIG. 67 is a partially cutaway side view taken on line H1--H1 of FIG.66.

FIG. 68 is a schematic side view for illustrating a device forcorrecting sensor error of the carrier.

FIGS. 69A to 69C are schematic side views for illustrating the deviationin position of the carrier due to sensor error of the carrier.

FIG. 70 is a partially cutaway top view for illustrating the sealedstructure of the cable insertion through the partition of the discchanger.

FIG. 71 is a side view taken on line I1--I1 of FIG. 70.

FIG. 72 is a block diagram for describing the control circuit forcontrolling the carrier and the hand of the disc changer.

FIG. 73 is a flowchart for describing Y-position detecting operation inwhich the carrier detects a disc rack board.

FIG. 74 is a flowchart for describing the operation in which the carrierdetects X-position of a disc rack board.

FIG. 75 is a flowchart for describing the operation for detecting theexistence of a disc on the disc rack board.

FIG. 76 is a flowchart for describing the operation in which the carrierdetects Y-position of a disc drive.

FIG. 77 is a flowchart for describing the operation for detecting theprotrusion of the hand to disc rack board side or disc drive side andthe operation for withdrawing the hand to the carrier side.

FIG. 78 is a flowchart for describing the operation for detecting sensorerror of the carrier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the disc changer in accordance with the present inventionwill be described referring the drawings. In these embodiments, barediscs for recording and/or regeneration of optical discs such as CD-ROMor magneto-optic discs are used. Therefore the drive for recordingand/or regenerating these discs are a disc drive.

Outline of the Disc Changer

Referring to FIG. 13 to FIG. 16, outline of this disc changer isdescribed.

The changer body 1 formed in a vertical cuboid box having the front side1a of operating side, opposite back side 1b, and right and left sides 1cand 1d. The changer body 1 is divided to two sections by a partition 2provided vertically along the center between the right side and leftside of the internal of the changer body.

In the changer body 1, a disc rack having a plurality of disc rackboards 4 is provided vertically for storing bare discs 3 flat on theboards, a plurality of disc drives 6 is provided vertically and iscontained inside a recorder and/or regenerator 5 for recording and/orregenerating a disc 3, one disc-in-out port 7 provided in the samearrangement as the disc drives 6, and a carrier 9 having a hand 8 forhandling a disc.

Where, a stack of the rack 4 having a plurality of flat rack boards 4vertically and a stack comprising a plurality of flat disc drives 6provided vertically and the disc-in-out port 7 are provided facing eachother in the X direction, otherwise horizontal right and left direction,and between these two stacks a travelling passage 10 for carrying thecarrier 9 is provided.

The disc rack having a plurality of rack boards 4 and the travellingpassage 10 for carrying the carrier 9 are contained in one partition ofthe internal of the changer body 1 defined by the partition 2, and aplurality of disc drives 6 provided vertically and the disc-in-out port7 are contained in another partition of the internal of the chamber body1 defined by the partition 2.

The disc rack having one hundred disc rack boards 4 to store one hundreddiscs 3 is used for this disc changer, the one hundred disc rack boards4 are divided to four blocks having twenty five boards each, twenty fivedisc rack boards 4 of one block are supported with a certain interval byone board base 11 with cantilevered structure in which one cantileverforms one disc rack board, and the four vertical board bases 11 areprovided in four steps vertically. Eight disc drives 6 and onedisc-in-out port 7, which is provided at a certain height in the middleof the stack of the disc drives in the same arrangement as the discdrive, are placed flat on the total nine step drive tables 12.

In the travelling passage 10, a carrier moving mechanism 13, whichsupports the cantilevered carrier 9 and is a linearly moving mechanismfor traveling vertically in Y direction, is provided vertically. On thecarrier 8, a hand moving mechanism 14, which is a linearly movingmechanism for traveling horizontally in X direction, is provided.

Disk gates 15, each of which is a flat opening provided on the sidefacing to the carrier 9 of the eight disc drives 6 and one disc-in-outport 7, are connected to the nine vertically arranged connecting gates16. The tray gate 17 of the disc-in-out port opens on the front side 1aof the changer body 1.

On the front side 1a of the changer body 1 in front of the one hundredstep disc rack boards 4, an amplifier block 19 is incorporatedvertically isolated with a vertical partition 18 with U-shapedhorizontal cross-section, and an interface block 20 for disc drives 6are contained in the bottom under the space for containing disc drives 6in the internal of the changer body 1. In the amplifier block 19, anamplifier circuit, power supply circuit, and CPU, which is amicrocomputer for controlling the carrier moving mechanism 13 and handmoving mechanism 14 responding to signals from sensors and encoders andfor controlling recorders and/or regenerators 5 of the disc drives 6 areprovided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION OF THE DISC CHANGER

As shown in FIG. 13 to FIG. 16, in the case of this disc changer forcharging discs, an operator inserts bare discs 3 one by one into thedisc-in-out port 7 from the outside of the changer body 1. The inserteddisc 3 is taken out from the disc-in-out port 7 by the carrier 9 andhand 8, and transferred in Y and X directions, and fed automatically toa certain specified position of the one hundred disc rack boards 4, andplaced flat on the disc rack board 4.

For changing a disc 3, the carrier 9 and hand 8 are moved under controlin Y and X directions, a disc 3 is taken out automatically in the Xdirection from a specified disc rack board 4 to the internal of thecarrier 9 by the hand 8 responding to a command from the CPU. The takenout disc 3 is transferred automatically in Y direction to a specifieddisc drive 6 by the carrier 9. The disc 3 in the carrier 9 is loadeddirectly and automatically along X direction to the recorder and/orregenerator 5 in the specified disc drive 6 through the connecting gate16 and disc gate 15 by the hand 8.

After the disc loading, the hand 8 is withdrawn automatically from theinternal of the disc drive 6 to the carrier 9, and recording and/orregeneration of the disc 3 is operated automatically by the recorder and/regenerator 5 in the disc drive 6.

While the disc 3 is recorded and/or regenerated in the specified discdrive 6, another disc 3 is taken out from another specified disc rackboard 4 and transferred and loaded automatically to another specifieddisc drive 6 in the same manner as described above, such operation isrepeated. The operation of taking out a disc after completion ofrecording and/or regeneration operation from the disc drive 6 andreturning to a specified original disc rack board 4 is a reversedoperation of the loading operation described hereinbefore.

Description of Disc Placing on a Disc Rack Board

A method of placing a disc 3 on a disc rack board 4 is describedreferring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 12.

A disc rack board 4 comprises a rectangular metal plate, a pair ofcut-outs 22 are formed on both sides of a disc in Z1 and Z2 directions,which is perpendicular to X1 and X2 directions, that is the movingdirection of the hand 8. The width A of a disc rack board 4 is madesufficiently narrower than the diameter B of disc 3 by providing thepair of cut-outs 22.

Total four disc supports 23 made of synthetic resin are provided on thedisc rack board at the positions on right and left sides on both ends inX1 and X2 directions. The total four disc supports 23 are positionedradially and point-symmetrically about the center of the disc rack board4.

Disk supports are structured so as that the bottom face of the outerperiphery 3b of a disc 3 is supported flat on the pair of disc supports23 at both ends in X1 and X2 directions, and the disc 3 is positioned atthe center O1 of the disc rack board 4 with some slack around thecenter. AT the center O1 of a disc rack board 4, a circular opening 24is formed in which the center core 3a of a disc 3 is to be inserted withsome slack.

Description of Operation for Holding a Disc by the Hand

Operation for holding a disc 3 by the hand 8 is described referring toFIG. 1 to FIG. 12.

A hand 8 comprises a pair of hand members provided facing each other inZ1 and Z2 directions, and comprises a pair of hand main members 26,namely sliding plate 26, made of flat metal plate formed symmetricallywhich are movable synchronously with each other in horizontal X1 and X2directions by the hand moving mechanism 14 described hereinafter andcomprises two pairs of submembers, total four disc holders 27, made ofsynthetic resin provided on the inside of a pair of hand main member 26with interposition in X1 and X2 directions. These total four discholders 27 of a set are positioned point-symmetrically about the centerO2 between a pair of hand main members 26.

The disc hand is structured so as that the periphery 3b of a disc 3 issupported flat at both Z1 side and Z2 side on two pairs of disc holders27 and the disc 3 is held at the center O2 between a pair of slidingplate 26 without a slack.

Description of Operation for Transferring a Disc by the Hand

Operation for transferring a disc 3 by the hand 8 on the carrier 9between a disc rack board 4 and the carrier 9 and between the carrier 9and a disc drive 6 referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, on a disc rack board 4 a disc issupported flat on total four disc supports 23 at four points on theperiphery 3b of the disc 3 on both X1 and X2 sides.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, the carrier 9, in which the hand 8is contained at the origin P1 of the internal of the carrier 9, is movedin vertical Y1 and Y2 directions by the carrier moving mechanism 13 andstopped in front of a specified disc rack board 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 9, the hand 8 is moved horizontal X1direction to the withdrawing position P2 on the disc rack board 4 by thehand moving mechanism 14, the total four disc holders 27 of the hand 8is inserted to the lower position under the disc 3 on both sides Z1 andZ2 of the periphery 3b of the disc 3 placed flat on a specified discrack board 4 (position under a pair of cutting off 22 of the disc rackboard 4).

Then as illustrated in FIG. 3, the carrier 9 is lifted vertically in Y1direction by a certain distance by the carrier moving mechanism 13, andthe hand 8 with the carrier 9 is lifted vertically from the lowerposition to the upper position of the disc rack board 4 passing througha pair of cut-out 22. In this case, the periphery 3b of a disc issupported by the total four disc holders 27 at both Z1 side and Z2 side,and a disc 3 is lifted up in Y1 direction apart from the total four discsupports 23 of the disc rack board 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 10, the hand 8 is moved in X2direction to the origin P1 in the carrier 9 by the hand moving mechanism14, a disc 3 is taken out in the arrow X1 direction from the disc rackboard 4 to the internal area of the carrier 9.

The carrier 9 is moved in vertical Y1 and Y2 directions by the carriermoving mechanism 13, a disc 3 is transferred vertically in Y1 and Y2directions to a position in front of a specified disc drive 6 by thecarrier 9, and the carrier 9 is stopped at the position in front of thespecified disc drive 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 11, the hand 8 is moved horizontallyin X2 direction to the recorder and/or regenerator position P3 in thedisc drive 6 by the hand moving mechanism 14, the disc 3 is withdrawnhorizontally to the withdrawing position P3 of the disc drive 6 abovethe spindle 29 and disc table 30 of the recorder and/or regenerator 5 inthe specified disc drive 6 by the hand 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the carrier 9 is descended by a certaindistance vertically in Y2 direction by the carrier moving mechanism 13,the hand 8 and disc 3 with the carrier 9 are descended vertically in Y2direction. In this case, the disc 3 is loaded vertically from the aboveon the spindle 29 and disc table 30 by the center core 3a, and the disc3 is chucked flat to the spindle 29 and disc table 30. The total fourdisc holders 27 of the hand 8 is moved down apart from the disc 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the hand 8 is withdrawn horizontally in X1direction to the origin P1 in the carrier 9 by the hand moving mechanism14, thus a series of disc transferring operations from a disc rack board4 to a disc drive 6 is completed.

After the disc loading, as illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 12, in therecorder and/or regenerator 5 of the disc drive 6, the disc 3 with thespindle 29 and disc table 30 is rotated by the spindle motor 21, andrecording and/or regeneration of the disc 3 is operated by an opticalpickup or external magnetic head as required (both are not shown infigures).

The operation to return a disc 3 in a disc drive 6 to an original discrack board 4 after finishing of recording and/or regeneration is areversed operation of above described loading operation. Thetransferring of a disc between the disc-in-out port 7 and a disc rackboard 4 is operated in the same manner as the transferring operation fora disc drive 6.

When transferring a disc using the disc changer described above in whichboth sides of the periphery of a disc 3 is supported by total four discholders 27 of a hand 8, and a disc 3 is transferred between a disc rackboard 4 and a carrier 9, and between a carrier 9 and a disc-in-out port7, the recording surface of the disc 3 will not be soiled and damaged.

For transferring of a disc 3, the disc 3 is supported on disc supports23 of a disc rack board 4 and total four disc holders 27 alternately atthe periphery 3b of the disc 3 on both X1 and X2 sides and on both Z1and Z2 sides which are perpendicular each other, therefore, a disc 3 istransferred smoothly.

For transferring a disc 3 in X1 and X2 directions between a carrier 9and a disc rack board 4 and between a carrier 9 and a disc drive 6, thehand 8 supports the periphery 3b of a disc 3 at both sides in Z1 and Z2directions perpendicular to the moving direction (X1 and X2 directions)of the hand 8, therefore, transferring operation of a disc 3 between theorigin P1 and withdrawing points P2 and P3 of a disc rack board 4 anddisc drive 6 respectively is operated easily without withdrawing thehand 8 to the deeper position in X1 and X2 directions into a disc rackboard 4 and disc drive 6. Therefore, transferring of a disc 3 between acarrier 9 and a disc rack board 4 and disc drive 6 is operated stablyand quickly with sufficiently reduced withdrawing distances S1 and S2from a carrier 9 to disc rack board 4 and disc drive 6.

For transferring operation of a disc 3 in X1 and X2 directions between acarrier 9 and a disc rack board 3 and between a carrier 9 and a discdrive 6, a hand 8 supports the periphery 3b of a disc 3 on both Z1 sideand Z2 side in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction (X1and X2 directions) of the hand 8, therefore, when a disc 3 is withdrawnin X2 direction from a disc rack board 4 on the one side of the carrier9 and then the disc 3 is delivered in X2 direction from another side ofthe carrier 9 to a disc drive 6, the disc 3 taken out in X2 directionform a disc rack board 4 is delivered quickly in X2 direction from thecarrier 9 to a disc drive 6 without changing the moving direction andwithout passing the disc 3 on the carrier 9. Therefore, the transferringoperational time of a disc 3 between a disc rack board 4 and a discdrive 6 through a carrier 9 is significantly shortened.

Description of the Closed Area in a Changer Body

The closed area and unclosed area formed in the changer body 1 aredescribed referring to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18.

Disks 3 become dusty easily because bare discs 3 are used in thischanger. Therefore, sufficient remediation to dust on discs 3 isrequired.

For remediation in this disc changer, in the internal of the changerbody 1 the shaded area in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 is completely sealed toform a sealed area 33, and the area other than the sealed area in theinternal of the changer body 1 is not sealed to form an unsealed area34.

In other words, the internal of the changer body 1 is divided to thesealed area 33 and the unsealed area by the partitions 2 and 18. In thesealed area 33 the one hundred step disc rack board 4, carrier 9, andcarrier moving mechanism 13 are provided, and in the unsealed area 34the eight step disc drive 6 and one disc-in-out port 7 are provided. Inthe unsealed area, main heat generating devices of an amplifier block 19and interface block 20 are also provided.

As described hereinafter, the internal of recorders and/or regenerators5 and the internal of the disc-in-out port 7 contained in the eight stepdisc drive 6 are structured to form sealed containers, and disc gates 15are connected air-tightly to connecting gates 16 on the spacing 2through dust-proof members. The tray gate 15 of the disc-in-out port 7is also structured to form an air-tight sealed container with the samedust-proof member, and the penetration of dust into the sealed area 33from the outside is prevented completely.

Therefore in this disc changer, all discs 3 charged from the disc-in-outport 7 to the internal of the changer body 1 is contained in the sealedarea 33, and in the sealed area 33 the above described automaticchanging of a disc 3 and recording and/or regeneration are operated.

Therefore, dust on the recording side of a disc 3 is eliminatedcompletely, and malfunctions such as output decrease due to spacing lossare prevented to occur, thus a disc changer which provides highperformance in recording and/or regenerating of a disc 3 is provided.

If, in the sealed area 33 in the internal of the changer body, main heatgenerating devices such as an amplifier block 19 and interface block 20are contained, the temperature in the internal of the sealed area rises.

Main heat generating devices are contained in the unsealed area 34 ofthe changer body 1 to prevent the temperature rising in the internal ofthe sealed area 33, and the main heat generating devices in the unsealedarea 34 are air-cooled using a fan, when, the fan does not cause thediffusion of dust in the sealed area 33, thus this structure not onlyprevents dust but also provides effective air-cooling of main heatgenerating devices.

Description of the First Modification of Layout of the Disc Rack andDisc Drives

As illustrated in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, for structuring this modifiedchanger, the eight step disc drives 6 are removed partially, forexample, a plurality of vertical steps of disc rack boards 4 is providedabove (or under) a plurality of vertical steps of disc drives 6 in theposition facing to the one hundred step disc rack boards 4, and thus thecapacity for containing the disc 3 can be increased.

Description of the Second Modification of Layout of a Disc Rack and DiscDrives

As illustrated in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, for structuring this modifiedchanger, a plurality of vertical steps of disc rack boards 4, aplurality of vertical steps of disc drives 6, and one disc-in-out port 7are provided vertically on one side of the travelling passage 10 of thecarrier, and thus the disc changer is minimized in size.

Description of the Carrier Moving Mechanism

The carrier moving mechanism 13 for moving the carrier 9 vertically in Ydirection along the vertical travelling passage 10 referring to FIG. 23and FIG. 24.

This carrier moving passage 13 has a structure in which a pair ofvertical parallel guide rails 36 and 37 is connected solidly at both topand bottom ends using a pair of top and bottom brackets 38 and 39, andthis structure is contained vertically in the changer body 1. A pair oftop timing pulley 42 and bottom timing pulley 43 is mounted rotatablywith interposition of pulley shafts 40 and 41 respectively on the pairof top bracket 38 and bottom bracket 39, between the pair of timingpulleys 42 and 43 single timing belt 44 is hung and tightened, and apair of sliders 45 and 46 engaged slidably in Y1 and Y2 directions alongthe pair of guide rail 36 and 37 is fixed to both hanging sides of thetiming belt 44.

On one slider 45 a carrier 9 is fixed in cantilevered structure, and onanother slider 46 a counter 47 is fixed. Using a motor 49 mounted on theside face of the top bracket 38, the top timing pulley 40 is drivenclockwise and counterclockwise in FIG. 24 with speed reduction withinterposition of a belt mechanism 50 which uses a timing belt, therebythe timing belt 44 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise in Y1 andY2 directions. he timing belt 44 moves slidably in Y1 and Y2 directionsthe pair of sliders 45 and 46 reversely along the pair of guide rails 36and 37, and the carrier 9 is moved linearly in high speed in Y1 and Y2directions along one guide rail 36 under weight-balanced conditionbetween the carrier 9 and the counter weight 47.

Description of Hand Moving Mechanism

A hand moving mechanism 14 which moves a hand in X direction on thecarrier 9 is described referring to FIG. 25 to FIG. 27.

A hand moving mechanism 14 is provided with a pair of slide units 52,which is a linearly sliding moving mechanism for sliding a pair of handmain members 26 synchronously in X1 and X2 directions, the each other,and the slide units 52 are mounted above the carrier 9 at the ends in Z1and Z2 directions, with interposition of a distance C larger than thediameter B of a disc 3, in parallel to X1 and X2 directions, andhorizontally.

The pair of slide units 52 is formed symmetrically each other, and thepair of slide units 52 is provided with slide bases 53 fixed flat on thecarrier 9, slide rails 54 which slide horizontally in X1 and X2directions on the slide bases 53, and a slide guide 55 which slideshorizontally in X1 and X2 directions on the slide rails 54. On the slideguide, the hand main members 26 is fixed flat symmetrically.

The pair of slide unit 52 is provided with flat slide plates 56 combinedfirmly with slide rails 54, a pair of vertical timing pulleys 57 and 58mounted rotatably on the top of both ends of the slide plates 56 in X1and X2 directions, and timing belts 59 provided horizontally between thepair of timing pulleys 57 and 58. The timing belts 59 are fixed to thecarrier 9 and the hand main members 26 at two points on the outside andinside of the timing belts 59 using a pair of clasps 60 and 61.

The pair of slide units is mounted vertically under the slide plates 56,and provided with racks 62 which are formed in parallel to X1 and X2directions.

On the hand moving mechanism 14, a driving unit 63 which is mounted onthe carrier and drives the pair of racks of the pair of slide units 52synchronously each other in X1 and X2 directions is provided. Thedriving unit 63 is provided with a single driving shaft 66, which isprovided horizontally in perpendicular to the pair of racks 62 drivenrotatably clockwise and counterclockwise with speed reduction by a motor64 with interposition of a belt driving mechanism 65 using a timingbelt, and a pair of pinions 67, which is fixed on both ends of thedriving shaft and drives the pair of racks 62 in X1 and X2 directions.

In the hand moving mechanism 14, when the motor 64 of the driving unit63 drives rotationally in clockwise or counterclockwise in FIG. 26 withspeed reduction with interposition of the belt driving mechanism 65, thepair of pinions 67 is driven rotationally clockwise or counterclockwisewith the driving shaft 66, and drives the pair of racks 62 of the pairof slide units 52 synchronously in X1 and X2 directions each other.

Then, the pair of slide rails 54 with the pair of racks 62 is slidsynchronously in X1 and X2 directions each other on the pair of slidebases 53, and the pair of timing belts 59 are driven rotationally inreverse direction each other between a pair of timing pulleys 57 and 58respectively while the pair of timing belts 59 fixed on the carrier 9 atthe outside portions of the belts 59 with clasps 60 is being slidsynchronously in X1 and X2 directions each other with the pair of sliderails 54.

Then, the pair of hand main members 26, which is fixed with a clasp 61on the inside of the pair of timing belts 59, is slid synchronously inX1 and Y1 directions each other on the pair of slide rails 54 by thepair of slide guide 55.

In this case, the pair of hand main members 26 is moved at a speeddouble of moving speed of the pair of slide rails 54 in the samedirection as the pair of slide rails 54, in other words, moving distanceof the hand main members 26 is 2S corresponding to the moving distance Sof the pair of slide rails 54.

Therefore, by using the hand moving mechanism 14, the hand 8 having thehand main members 26 can be moved at high speed in linear motionhorizontally in X1 and X2 directions to the carrier 9. The pair of handmain members 26 can be moved at a seed double of the moving speed of thepair of slide rails 54, thereby, the moving stroke of the hand 8 in X1and X2 directions can be designed to be long.

As described hereinbefore, the hand 8 transfers a disc 3 advantageouslyat high speed in X1 and X2 directions between the carrier 9 and a discrack board 4 and between the carrier 9 and a disc drive 6 and thedisc-in-out port 7, in addition, the hand 8 is adoptable to equipmentswhich have different space in X1 and X2 directions to a travellingpassage of a carrier 9.

The hand moving mechanism 14 is structured simple, small-sized, andlight-weight, and moreover, the moving stroke of the hand 8 can bedesigned to be long. Therefore, the whole weight of the carrier 9 can bereduced, and also, the carrier 9 can be moved at high speed in Y1 and Y2directions by the carrier moving mechanism 13.

Detailed Description of the Disc Supports of a Disc Rack Board 4

The structure of the total four disc supports 23 mounted on a disc rackboard 4 is described in detail referring to FIG. 25, and FIG. 28A toFIG. 30A.

The total four disc supports 23 formed of synthetic resin is constitutedsolidly of a taper section 70 for supporting a disc flat on whichsection the back side 3b of peripheral edge 3c of a disc is placed fromabove, a vertical section 71 rising from the periphery of the taper 70,and a disc inducing taper 72 formed on the outer periphery at the top ofthe vertical section 71.

On the bottom side of each four disc support, a projection 73, nail 74,and positioning pin (not shown in figures) are formed solidly, thesefour disc supports 23 are mounted from the above at four positions onthe disc rack board 4 described already referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 12.

In this case, the projection 73 of each disc support 23 is engaged in anengaging hole 76 of a disc rack board 4, the nail 74 is fixed in anfixing hole 77 of the disc rack board 4, and the positioning pin isengaged in a positioning hole (not shown in figures) of the disc rackboard 4, thus each disc support 23 is structured so as that a discsupport 23 is mounted on a disc rack board 4 with simple one touchaction.

A taper section 70 for disc supporting of these four disc supports 23has a configuration that the plane is tapered gradually more gentletoward the center O1. The disc inducing taper section 72 formed on theperiphery as required has a configuration that the plane is taperedgradually steeper toward the center O1.

The minimum inside diameter D of the inside of the vertical section 71formed by the total four disc supports is sufficiently larger than thediameter B of a disc 3, there are slacks E between the minimum insidediameter D and the diameter B of a disc 3.

A disc 3, which is put on flat from the above in Y2 direction on thedisc rack board 4 by the hand 8, is inserted in the inside of thevertical sections 71 of the total four disc supports 23, and placedhorizontally on the taper sections 70 for disc supporting. There aresmall clearances 79 between the bottom side 3b of the disc 3 and theupper surface 4a of the disc rack board 4.

In this case, the recording surface 3d formed on the bottom side 3b willnot be damaged because the peripheral edge 3c of the bottom side 3b ofthe disc 3 is placed on the four taper section 70.

The four taper sections 70 function to settle automatically the disc 3at the center O1 of the total four disc supports 23 under gravitation.

In this case, there are clearances 2E between the minimum insidediameter D inside the vertical section 71 of the total disc supports 23and the diameter B of a disc 3, therefore, a disc is inserted withsufficient allowance of 2E when the disc 3 is inserted horizontally inY2 direction to the inside of the vertical sections 71 of the total fourdisc supports 23 by the hand 8 without happening of collision of aportion of the periphery of the disc 3 against a vertical section 71,thus a disc 3 is placed smoothly and safely on the total four discsupports 23.

Disk inducing taper sections 72 on the outer periphery of the total fourdisc supports are not necessarily required, and the clearance of a discrack board 4 can be reduced if the taper section 72 is removed.

Detailed Description of Disc Holder of Hand

Total four disc holders 27 mounted on the inside of the hand main member26 of the hand 8 are described in detail referring to FIG. 25 and FIG.28B to FIG. 30B.

Each of total four disc holders 27 formed of synthetic resin isconstituted solidly of a disc holding taper section 81, a verticalsection 82 rising from the outer periphery of the taper section 81, anda disc inducing taper section 83 formed on the top outer periphery ofthe vertical section 82.

Each of these total four disc holder 27 is screwed on the inside portionof the hand main member 26 comprising a flat metal plate with at theflange 84 extending solidly from the disc holder 27.

The disc holding taper section 81 of each of total four disc holders 23has a configuration that the plane is tapered gradually more gentletoward the center O2 (taper which is the same angle as that of the discsupporting taper section) The disc inducing taper section 83 has aconfiguration that the plane is tapered gradually steeper toward thecenter O2.

The minimum inside diameter F of the inside vertical section 82 of eachof four disc holders 27 is approximately equal to the diameter B of adisc 3, that is, there is scarce clearance between the minimum insidediameter F and the diameter B. The width 2G in radial direction of thedisc inducing taper sections 83 on the periphery of four disc holders 27is larger than the slack 2E of four disc supports 23 to the diameter Bof a disc 3.

When a disc 3 on the disc rack board 4 is lifted flat in Y1 directionfrom the under and held by the hand 8, the disc 3 is induced by the discinducing taper section 83 of the four disc holders 27, inserted in theinside of the vertical sections 27, and placed on the disc holdingtapers 81.

In this case, the peripheral edge 3c of the bottom side of the disc 3 isplaced on the four taper sections 81, therefore, the recording surface3d formed on the bottom side 3b of the disc 3 will not damaged.

Then, the disc 3 is settled automatically at the center O2 of the fourdisc holders 27 by the four vertical sections 82.

Therefore, the four disc holding members 27 of the hand 8 settle a discat the center O2 position, and the hand 8 transfers the disc holding itstably without slipping.

A disc 3 is placed flat with a certain allowance of a slack 2E aroundthe diameter B of the disc on the four disc supports 23 on a disc rackboard 4, but on the other hand, a disc 3 is placed flat without slackaround the diameter B of the disc on the four disc holders 27 of thehand 8.

Therefore, the position on the four disc supports 23 of a disc rackboard 4 where a disc is placed is controlled by the four disc holders 27of the hand 8, thus the disc 3 is placed consistently and stably on thefour disc supports 23 of the disc rack board 4 at the center in ahorizontal plane to the four disc holders 26 of the hand 8 (as shown inFIG. 2 and FIG. 9, the center refers to the central position O2 of thefour disc holders 26 of the hand when the hand 8 is positioned at thewithdrawing position P2 of the disc rack board 4.

As the result, as described referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 12, when adisc 3 is transferred to or from a disc rack board 4 by the hand 8, thedeviation of placement in a horizontal plane of the disc 3 on the discsupports 23 of the disc rack board 4 and the disc holders 26 of the hand8 is eliminated, and the partial wearing at certain positions of discs 3on disc holders and disc supports 23 is prevented.

As illustrated in FIG. 30A, a disc 3 can be deviated horizontally fromthe central position O1 of the four disc supports 23 within the slack of2E on the disc rack board 4. However, as shown in FIG. 30B, the tapersections 83 of the four disc holders 27 of the hand 8 has a slack of 2Gwhich is larger than 2E, if the disc 3 is placed with a deviationhorizontally on a disc rack board 4, the taper sections 83 induces thedisc 3 consistently in the inside of the vertical sections when the hand8 receives the disc 3 on the disc rack board 4 from Y1 direction.Therefore, the receipt of a disc 3 on a disc rack board 4 by the hand 8is possible.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 30A, when the hand 8 returns a disc 3 ontothe four disc supports 23 of a disc rack board 4 from Y2 direction, ifthe central position O2 of the four disc holders 27 of the hand 8happens to deviate horizontally from the central position O1 of the discsupports 23 within the slack of 2E, the disc 3 is placed consistently inthe inside of the vertical section 71 of the disc supports 23.

In this case, the general repetition accuracy involving the deviation ofthe central position O2 of the four disc holders 27 of the hand 8 fromthe central position O1 of the four disc supports 23 of a disc rackboard 4 is far higher than the absolute position accuracy. Therefore, ifthe central position O2 deviates from the central position O1 when adisc 3 is returned at the first time onto a disc rack board 4 by thehand 8, the disc is placed with the same accuracy in the every followingreturnings. Therefore, when the hand 8 receives the disc 3 on the discrack board 4 every time after the first receiving from Y2 direction, thefour disc holders 27 of the hand 8 can induce the disc 3 insideconsistently the vertical sections 82 without the taper sections 83.

The four disc holders 26 of the hand 8 can hold a disc withoutpositional deviation in horizontal plane, therefore, as describedreferring to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 11, the hand 8 places a disc 3accurately and consistently on the spindle 29 and disc table 30 in therecorder and/or regenerator 5 in a disc drive 6 from Y2 direction, thusthe mis-loading is prevented reliably.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, out of the four vertical sections 82 of thefour disc holders 26, the edge 82a in X1 side of the pair of verticalsections 82 provided on X1 side and the edge 82b in X2 side of the pairof vertical sections 82 provided on X2 side define the above-mentionedminimum inside diameter F.

As the result, the edges 82c and 82d facing each other of these pair ofvertical sections 82 and the periphery of a disc 3 form a triangular gap86 for inducing a disc, and the co-operation of the taper section 81 fordisc inducing with this gap 86 allows a disc 3 to be induced smoothlyinto the inside of the four vertical sections 82.

Description of the First Modification of Disc Supports on a Disc RackBoard

Then, The disc changer in accordance with the present invention may be adisc changer having disc supports on a disc rack board which are locatedon three places as illustrated in FIG. 31.

Description of the Second Modification of Disc Supports on a Disc RackBoard

The disc changer in accordance with the present invention may be a discchanger having disc supports on a disc rack board which are located ontwo places along the periphery of a disc 3 as illustrated in FIG. 32.

Detailed Description of the Sealed Structure in a Disc Drive

The sealed structure of the recorder and/or regenerator 5 provided in adisc drive 6 is described referring to FIG. 33 to FIG. 35.

The disc drive 6 is provided with a body enclosure 88 and a dust-proofbox 89 with a sealed structure provided in the internal thereof, therecorder and/or regenerator 5 is contained in the dust-proof box.

The dust-proof box 89 is located on the mechanical chassis 90horizontally and air-tightly, and the bottom four corners of themechanical chassis 90 and 89 are supported elastically on the bottomchassis 92 of the body enclosure 88 with interposition of fourvibration-proof dampers 91 made of rubber. A spindle 29, disc table 30,and spindle motor 31, optical pick-up and outer magnetic head which isused as required (these are not shown in figures) which constitute therecorder and/or regenerator are provided in the dust-proof box 89 abovethe mechanical chassis 90.

The four dampers 91 are structured in a configuration in which, forexample, a damper comprises a semi-spherical damper main section 91 andbottom flange section 91b formed solidly of elastic material such asrubber. The bottom flange 91b is secured horizontally on the bottomchassis 92 with a pair of clasps 93 such as a snap pin, and dampercontacts 90a formed at the bottom four corners of the mechanical chassis90 are placed on the damper main sections 91a. A screw 94 inserted intothe damper contact 90a vertically from the above is screwed tightly to anut 95 which is insert-molded at the top of the damper main section 91a.

Therefore, if the body enclosure 88 is vibrated horizontally or verticaldue to external vibration loaded to the body enclosure 88, the externalvibration is absorbed by the four dampers 91, the whole dust-proof box89 is prevented from vibration. Dampers with various configurations maybe used as the damper 91.

On the other hand, to keep a dust-proof box 89 air-tight, a disc gate 15of each disc drive 6 is opened on the side 89a facing to the partition 2of a dust-proof box, the disc gate 15 is connected air-tightly to aconnecting gate 16 on the partition 2 facing each other withinterposition of a dust-proof member 96.

The disc gate 15 formed on the side 89 of a dust-proof box 89 isconnected to each connecting gate 16 through an opening 97 formed on theside facing to the partition 2 of the body enclosure 88.

On the inside of the opening 97, the peripheries of the disc gate 15 andconnecting gate 16 are joined air-tightly with a rectangular ringdust-proof member 96. The dust-proof member 96 consists of flexibleelastic material such as neoprene sponge, molto-prane sponge, rubber,and filtering paper.

Therefore, by using this disc drive 6, a recorder and/or regenerator 5are prevented from vibration because the recorder and/or regenerator 5is contained in the internal of a dust proofing box 89 and supportedelastically on four dampers 91, and the recorder and/or regenerator 5 iskept air-tightly and dust-proof because the recorder and/or regenerator5 in the dust-proof box 89 is connected air-tightly to the sealed area33 in the changer body 1 as illustrated in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 usingflexible elastic dust proofing material 96 for connecting air-tightlybetween peripheries of the disc gate 14 of the dust-proof box 89 and theconnecting gate 16 of the partition 2.

Description of Attaching Mechanism for Attaching Disc Rack Boards to aBoard Base

An attaching mechanism for attaching disc rack boards 4 to a board base11 is described referring to FIG. 36 to FIG. 42.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, on a vertical board base 11 twenty five discrack boards 4 are cantilevered horizontally with a certain interval. Theboard base 11 comprises a back plate 11a and a pair of side plates 11bfacing each other in parallel provided perpendicular to the back plate11a so as that the horizontal cross-section of the board base 11 isnearly in U-shaped, and the board base 11 has a certain length andprovided vertically.

The board base 11 is structured so as that a disc rack board 4 isattached to the board base 11 through one touch operation, that is, thebase section 4b of a disc rack board 4 locating on the opposite sidefrom the carrier 9 side is inserted horizontally between a pair of rightand left side plates 11b of the board base 11 with U-shapedcross-section from X1 direction.

On the back plate 11a of a board base 11 along the vertical center lineof the back plate 11a, twenty five horizontal grooves 100 are providedwith a certain interval, and on the right and left side plates 11b ofthe board base 11 along the vertical edge 11c on X2 side facing to thecarrier 9, twenty five horizontal grooves 101 and 102 are provided oneach edge 11c respectively with the same interval as that of the grooveson the back plate 11a, a set of the three grooves on the back plate 11aand on the side plates 11b having the same step number is positioned ina horizontal plane, and these grooves are served as positioning grooves.Ends of a pair of right and left positioning grooves 101 and 102 areopened at the end faces 11c of the right and left side plates 11b.

On each disc rack board 4, three insert projections 103, 104, and 105are formed solidly and symmetrically with respect to the center linebetween both side plates 11b so as that three insert projections areinserted from X1 direction to the corresponding three positioninggrooves, that is, an insert projection 103 provided at the center of theend face 4d of the base section 4b of the disc rack board 4 on X1 sideis inserted to the groove 100, two insert projections 104 and 105provided on right and left end faces 4e are inserted to the grooves 101and 102 respectively. On the outside of right and left insertprojections, a pair of small projections 104a and 105a to be insertedfrom X1 direction to the outside of the right and left side plates 11bof the board base 11 is formed.

Flat twenty five insert guides 106 formed solidly of synthetic resin areprovided vertically with the same interval as that of the groovesrespectively on either right and left side plates 11b facing to theinside locating near the back plate 11a side, a set of two insert guideswith the same step number is positioned in the same plane and positionedin the same plane as that of three positioning grooves 100, 101, and 102having the same step number.

As illustrated in FIG. 41 and FIG. 40, these insert guides 106 can beattached on the inside on the right and left plates 11b through onetouch operation by inserting from Z1 and Z2 directions a pair of nails107 formed solidly on the outside of both ends of these insert guides107 into a pair of holding holes 108 formed on the right and left plates11b. On the inside facing surfaces of these pair of right and leftinsert guides 106, a pair of horizontal right and left insert guidegrooves 109 are formed.

A pair of right and left leaf springs 110, which are block membersformed solidly on a pair of right and left insert guides 106, and a pairof right and left cutting off 111 formed on the right and left end faces4e of the base section 4b of each disc rack board 4 constitute a pair ofright and left locking mechanism 112. These pair of right and left leafsprings 110 is formed in L-shaped symmetrically, and free ends 110a ofthe leaf springs 110 project in Z1 and Z2 directions through a pair ofright and left grooves 113 provided on the right and left side plates11b to the outside of these right and left side plates 11b. A pair ofright and left leaf springs 114 which are served as pressure members isformed on the ends on X1 side of a pair of right and left insert guides106. These leaf springs 114 are formed in small sized, and contact onthe inside of the back plate 11a of the board base 11.

By using the attaching mechanism for attaching disc rack boards 4 to aboard base 11 structured as described above, as illustrated in FIG. 36to FIG. 40, each disc rack board 4 is attached to a board base 11through one touch operation by only inserting the base section 4b ofeach disc rack board 4 from X1 direction horizontally between right andleft side plates of the board base 11 to insert horizontally from X1direction three insert projections 103, 104, and 105 into threepositioning grooves 100, 101, and 102.

When as illustrated in FIG. 41 and FIG. 42, right and left both endsfaces 4e of the base section 4b of the disc rack board 4 are insertedfrom X1 direction to insert guide grooves 109 of a pair of right andleft insert guides 106, a pair of right and left leaf springs 110 of thelock mechanisms 112 are temporarily released in Z1 direction against theelastic force as shown in FIG. 41 with dashed line.

Then, the three insert projections 103, 104, and 105 are completelyinserted in X1 direction in the three positioning grooves 100, 101, and102, a pair of right and left leaf springs 110 returned elastically inZ2 direction as shown with solid line in FIG. 41, thereby, engagedautomatically in a pair of right and left engaging cutting off 111 ofthe disc rack board 4, thus the disc rack board is locked on the boardbase 11 and the disc rack board 4 is prevented from falling down in X2direction from the board base 11. When as illustrated in FIG. 38, a pairof right and left small projections 104a and 105a are insertedsimultaneously from X1 direction in the outside of the right and leftside plates of the board base 11 so as that the right and left sideplates 11b are not forced to be pushed out in Z1 and Z2 directionstoward outside in FIG. 38.

In this case, the end face 4b of the base section of the disc rack board4 pushes from X1 direction a pair of right and left leaf springs 114against elastic force to the back plate 11a of the board base 11.Thereby, the disc rack board 4 is pushed in X2 direction, which is theopposite direction against the insert direction, by the reaction pushingforce of a pair of right and left leaf springs to remove the loosenessbetween a pair of right and left leaf springs 110 and engaging cuttingoff 111.

Therefore, a disc rack board 4 is positioned accurately at the standardposition in respect of vertical and horizontal directions, namely Y1 andY2 directions, Z1 and Z2 directions, and X1 and X2 directions, with aidof the three positioning grooves 100, 101, and 102, and attached stablyand firmly without any looseness.

To detach a disc rack board 4 from a board base 11, as illustrated inFIG. 41 with dashed line, free ends 110a of a pair of right and leftleaf springs 110 are pulled in Z1 and Z2 directions in FIG. 38 towardthe outside of right and left side plates 11b of the board base 11 todisengage the pair of right and left leaf springs 110 from the pair ofright and left engaging cutting off 111 of the disc rack board 4outside, and the disc rack board 4 is automatically pushed out from theboard base 11 in X2 direction by pushing force of the pair of right andleft leaf springs 114 in X2 direction of the disc rack board 4.Therefore, a disc rack board 4 is detached from a board base 11 simplythrough one touch operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, FIG. 13, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, and FIG.22, a vertical board base 11 is fixed on the vertical frame 115 formounting board base in a changer body 1 with, for example, screws.

Description of Disc Floating Prevention Structure on Carrier

Structure for preventing the upward floating of a disc 3 supported flatin the carrier 9 by the hand 8 is described referring to FIG. 43 andFIG. 44.

On the carrier 9, for example, two horizontal parallel ceiling frames117 is provided across a space above the hand 8 in Z1 and Z2 directions,both ends in the longitudinal direction of the ceiling frames 117 arescrewed with a plurality of screws 118 on the carrier 9 so as that theceiling frames spun both sides of a pair of right and left slide units52 of the hand moving mechanism 14 described hereinbefore.

On the bottom of the ceiling frames 117, four disc brace 119 are fixedflat through adhesion or screwing with screws 120. The disc braces 119are formed of elastic material such as rubber, and provided preferablyat a certain height from the upper face 3f of the disc 3 heldhorizontally by the hand 8, the disc braces constituted with brush maycontact continuously on the upper face 3f of the disc 3.

Accordingly, if, under unusual conditions such as emergency halt of highspeed motion in Y1 direction of a disc 3 by the carrier 9 to happen toexceed the acceleration of gravity of the disc 3 or abnormal vibrationof the carrier 9 during transferring of a disc 4 in Y1 or Y2 direction,when the disc 3 are about to float in Y1 direction from the four discholder 27 of the hand 8, the disc 3 is pressed by four disc braces 119toward Y2 direction. Thereby, a disc 3 is prevented from floating andfalling down in Y1 direction from the four disc holders 27 of the hand8.

Description of Drive Mounting Mechanism onto Drive Table

A drive mounting mechanism for mounting a disc drive 6 onto a drivetable 12 shown in FIG. 14 is described referring to FIG. 45 to FIG. 50.

FIG. 45 illustrates the L-shaped mounting method of this drive mountingmechanism. A disc drive 6 is inserted from the front side 1a of thechanger body 1 to the rear Z2 direction to place flat on the drive table12, then, the disc drive 6 is slid on the drive table 12 toward thepartition 2 side in X1 direction perpendicularly, and the disc drive 6is positioned with positioning pins provided on the partition 2.

A drive sliding mechanism 122 for sliding a disc drive toward twodirections, namely front and rear Z1 and Z2 directions and right andleft X1 and X2 directions is described.

This drive sliding mechanism comprises four ball casters fixed on thefour corners on the drive table 12, a pair of fixed guides 124 made ofsynthetic resin fixed on the Z2-end side 12a of the drive table 12 withinterposition of a space, a pair of guide rails 125 with U-shapedvertical cross-section which are bend metal sheets mounted parallel eachother with interposition of the same space as that of the pair of fixedguides 124 under the bottom side 6a of the disc drive 6 in parallel, aguide roller 126 provided around the center of the X2-side end 12b of onthe drive table 12, a guide roller 127 provided around the center of theX1-side end 12c on the drive table 12, a pair of levers 130 and 131provide under the drive table 12 for moving a pair of guide rollers 126and 127 around fulcrum shafts 128 and 129 through holes 141 and 142 inX1 and X2 directions passing through holes 141 and 142, a pair ofhelical tension springs 132 and 133 which are position maintaining meansfor maintaining the position rotationally of the pair of levers 130 and131 in X2 direction, and a guide wall 134 provided perpendicular to thepartition 2 rising upward from the Z1-side end 12d on the drive table12.

The pair of fixed guides 124, pair of guide rails 125, and pair of guideroller 126 and 127 constitute a guide mechanism 135 for guiding a discdrive 6 in Z1 and Z2 directions, and the guide wall constitutes a guidemechanism for guiding a disc drive 6 in X1 and X2 directions.

A positioning pin projecting horizontally in X2 direction horizontallyin parallel to the front side 1a of the changer body 1 on the drivetable 12 side at the Z1-side end of the partition 2. A pair ofpositioning plates 138 is mounted on both Z1 and Z2 side ends of theX1-side 6b of the disc drive 6, a positioning hole 139 which is to beinserted into the positioning pin 137 is formed on the Z1-sidepositioning plate 138. A lock mechanism 140 of latch type, which islocked by hooking the tip 131a of the lever 131 is mounted on theoutside of the Z2 side end of the drive table 12.

Mounting operation of a disc drive 6 onto a drive table 12 is described.

As illustrated in FIG. 47 and FIG. 50B, a disc drive 6 is placed from Z1direction on the end 12a of a drive table 12, a pair of guide rails 125is inserted from the above on the pair of fixed guides 124, and the pairof guide rails 125 is placed on a pair of ball casters 123 of the end12a side.

Then as illustrated in FIG. 48, the pair of guide rails 125 is slidlightly on the pair of ball casters 123 utilizing rolling frictionaction of these ball casters 123, and thus the disc drive 6 is insertedhorizontally in Z1 direction onto the drive table 12.

In this case, the pair of guide rails 125 is guided by the pair of fixedguides 124, and X1-side 125a of the X2-side guide rail 125 and X2-side125b of the X1-side guide rail 125 are guided by the pair of guiderollers 126 and 127 which are forced in X2 direction by the pair ofhelical tension springs 132 and 133, and thus the disc drive 6 isinserted horizontally in Z1 direction on the drive table 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 48, when disc drive 6 is inserted completely fromZ1 direction on the drive table 12, the Z1 and Z2-side ends of the pairof guide rails 125 are place completely on the four ball casters 123,the pair of fixed guides 124 are pulled out in Z2 direction from theZ2-side end of the pair of guide rails 125, also the Z1-side 6c of thedisc drive 6 contacts on the guide wall 134 in parallel.

The setting shown in FIG. 48 is the mounting position, and in thisposition the pair of guide rails 125 is placed on the four ball casters123, and the disc drive 6 is slid in two directions of Z2 direction andX1 and X2 directions on the drive table 12 smoothly through rollingfriction action of these ball casters 123.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 49 and FIG. 50C, the lever 131 is rotatedin X1 direction around the fulcrum 129 against the tension of thehelical tension spring 133 with taking the tip 131a of the lever 131.

The guide roller 127 pushes in X1 direction the portion around thecenter in the Z1 and Z2 directions of the X2-side 125b of the X1-sideguide rail 125, the disc drive 6 is slid lightly in X1 direction inparallel to the guide wall 134, the pair of positioning plates 138contacts on the partition 2 from X1 direction, the positioning hole 139of one positioning plate 138 is inserted to the positioning pin 137 fromX1 direction, the disc drive 6 is positioned accurately at the standardposition on the drive table 12. In this case, the guide roller 126 isreleased in X1 direction against the helical tension spring 132.

By locking the tip 131a of the lever 131 with the lock mechanism 140,the disc drive 6 is fixed on the drive table 12 completely, the mountingoperation of a disc drive 6 on a drive table 12 is finished.

The setting shown in FIG. 49 and FIG. 50C is the positioning position,when a disc drive 6 is taken out from the drive table 12, the locking ofthe lever 131 with the lock mechanism 140 is released to return thepressing roller 127 in X2 direction with aid of the helical tensionspring 133. The disc drive 6 is slid in X2 direction on the four ballcasters 123 along the guide wall 134 to the mounting positionillustrated in FIG. 48. In this case, the mounting position of the discdrive 6 is set utilizing the guide roller 127 as a stopper, and the pairof guide rails 125 is positioned at the same phase as the pair of fixedguides 124. Then, the disc drive 6 is withdrawn in Z2 direction from thedrive table 12 freely.

By using a drive mounting mechanism structured as described hereinabove, only putting on a heavy disc drive 6 on a drive sliding mechanism122 on a drive table 12 allows the disc drive 6 to be slid in Z1 and Z2directions and X1 and X2 directions very easily.

Accordingly, the mounting operation of a disc drive 6 on a drive table12 and the positioning operation of a disc drive 6 using positioning pin137 are conducted very easily. In this case, after insertion of the discdrive 6 in Z1 direction on the drive table 12 from the front side 1a ofthe changer body 1, the disc drive 6 is slid perpendicular X1 directionto be inserted in the horizontal positioning pin 137 from X1 direction,the disc drive 6 is slid in L-shaped, thereby, even when a plurality ofchanger bodies 1 are installed side 1c by side 1c, a disc drive 6 ismounted or taken out for the front side 1a of the changer bodies 1.Accordingly, the maintenance of the disc drive 6 is easy.

In this embodiment, the positioning hole 139 of the disc drive 6 isinserted for positioning to the positioning pin 137 fixed on thepartition 2 from X1 direction, but reversely, the positioning pin 137fixed on the disc drive 6 may be inserted for positioning in thepositioning hole 139 from X1 direction. This drive mounting mechanism isalso adopted to a mounting device for mounting a disc-in-out port 7 on adrive table 12.

Description of Disc-in-out Port

A disc-in-out port 7 is described referring to FIG. 51 to FIG. 56.

As illustrated in FIG. 51 to FIG. 53, the disc-in-out port 7 iscontained in the internal of the dust proofing box 144 which isstructured air-tight. The front side 144a is facing to the front side ofthe changer body 1, and the tray gate 17 is provided on the front side144a. The disc gate 15 provided on the partition 2-side 144b of the dustproofing box 144 is connected to the connecting gate 16 of the partition2 with interposition of dust proofing material 96 air-tightly in thesame manner as described in FIG. 33 and FIG. 34 for a disc drive 6.

For the disc-in-out port 7, a slide type disc tray 145 which istransferred horizontally in front rear Z1 and Z2 directions by a traysliding mechanism 155 described hereinafter is used. As illustrated inFIG. 51 and FIG. 53A, an operator withdraws a disc tray 145 from theinternal of the disc-in-out port 7 in Z2 direction through the tray gate17 and places flat a disc 3 on the disc support 145 on the disc tray145, subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 52B and FIG. 53B, an operatorinserts the disc tray 145 in the internal of the disc-in-out port 7 inZ1 direction, thus the disc 3 is set flat in the disc-in-out port 7.

In this case, the disc support 146 on the disc tray 145 is positioned atthe prescribed position in the disc-in-out port 7 by the pair ofpositioning pins 147 with aid of a limiter mechanism 161, the disc 3 ispositioned at the center P12 of the hand 8 on the carrier 9, and thedisc tray 145 is locked by the electro-magnetic lock mechanism 148utilizing plunger solenoid.

Afterwards, the hand 8 on the carrier 9 is inserted horizontally in X1direction into the disc-in-out port 7 through the connecting gate 16 anddisc gate 15, and the disc 3 on the disc support 146 of the disc tray145 is taken out in X2 direction to the carrier 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 52A and 53A, when the disc tray 145 is insertedin Z1 direction into the dust proofing box 144 and locked by theelectromagnetic lock mechanism 148, the front panel 145a of the disctray 145 is pressed to Z1 direction on the rectangular ring dustproofing member 149 (the same dust proofing material 96 as used in FIG.33 and FIG. 24 is used) provided along the periphery of the tray gate17, and thus the tray gate 17 is sealed air-tightly.

Accordingly, when the disc 3 is set in the disc-in-out port 7 by thedisc tray 145, the internal of the disc-in-out port 7 is completelysealed, and this sealing is the same condition as described in FIG. 17and FIG. 18 in which the sealed area 33 in the internal of a changerbody 1 is connected air-tightly.

For excluding a disc 3 on a disc rack board 4 in the changer body 1 tothe outside of the changer body 1, the disc 3 taken out form the discrack board 4 by the hand 8 and carrier 9 is excluded in X1 direction onthe disc tray 145 in the disc-in-out port 7, and the disc 3 is excludedin Z2 direction to the outside of the disc-in-out port 7 by the disctray 145.

Accordingly, by using this disc-in-out port 7, even in service of thedisc changer, a disc 3 is charged and discharged safely and freely fromor to the outside of the changer body 1 to or from a disc rack board inthe changer body 1.

The electro-magnetic lock mechanism 148 comprises a lock lever 151engaged automatically with a locking pin 150 fixed on the Z1-side end ofthe disc tray 145 by spring means, and a plunger solenoid 152 forlocking the lock lever 151 and the locking pin 150 in locked condition.

The electromagnetic lock mechanism 148 prevents a disc tray 145 fromhappening to jump out to X2 direction outside the disc-in-out port 7,and prevents a disc tray 145 from happening to slide in Z1 and Z2directions during transferring of a disc 3 in X1 and X2 directionsbetween the disc-in-out port 7 and carrier 9 by the hand 8.

The tray gate 17 has a size slightly larger than the outside diameter ofa disc 3, therefore, a human hand can not be inserted in the disc-in-outport 7 from the tray gate 17. Such structure prevents a human hand fromtouching on servo systems such as the carrier 9 and hand 8.

A Disc Tray 145 is Described in Detail Referring to FIG. 54 to FIG. 56

As illustrated in FIG. 54 to FIG. 56, a disc table 146 comprises arectangular flat plate with a width I approximately the same as thewidth A of a disc rack board 4 shown in FIG. 8. At the four corners of adisc table 146, circular disc supports 153 are fixed, and at each centerof these disc supports 153 a centering guide 154 having a sharp tip ofcircular cone-shaped is fixed respectively. The periphery 3b of a disc 3is put on the inside of the four centering guides 154 to be centered,and the disc is settled horizontally on the four disc supports 153.

The disc support is formed in a tapered shape inclining downward towardthe center of a disc 3, illustration is omitted, this configurationfunctions to center a disc 3 and also functions to prevent the recordingsurface 3e on the bottom side 3c of the disc 3 from damaged.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 55, a tray sliding mechanism 155 forsliding a disc tray 145 into or from the disc-in-out port 7 with a longstroke in Z1 and Z2 directions comprises a pair of right and leftvertical guide rails 156 fixed in parallel to Z1 and Z2 directions withinterposition of a space in X1 and X2 directions on the bottom 144c in adust proofing box 144, a pair of horizontal guide rollers providedadjacent vertically on the outside of these a pair of right and leftguide rails 156 with interposition of a certain space in Z1 and Z2directions, horizontal guide rails 158, which are guided horizontallybetween the horizontal rollers 157 provided vertically adjacent eachother, and which are bends bending inward horizontally from the bottomend of both X1 and X2 sides 145b of the disc tray 145, a vertical guide160 in parallel to Z1 and Z2 directions fixed on the bottom side of thedisc tray 145 at the center in X1 and X2 directions, right and left twovertical guide rollers 159a for guiding the vertical guide rail 160,which vertical guide rollers 159a are provided on right and left bothsides of the vertical guide rail 160 on the bottom 144c withinterposition of a certain space in Z1 and Z2 directions, and right andleft two vertical guide rollers 159b, which guide the insides of thepair of right and left vertical guide rails 156, and which are fixed onthe bottom side of the disc tray 145 with contact on the inside of apair of right and left vertical guide rails with interposition of acertain space in Z1 and Z2 directions.

Accordingly by using this tray sliding mechanism 154, a disc tray 154 isslid without vibration and rattling, and a disc tray 154 is slid in Z1and Z2 directions stably with a long stroke.

As illustrated in FIG. 54 to FIG. 56, a limiter mechanism 161 has astructure in which a disc table 146 is fixed horizontally on slidingtable 164 with a reversed U-shaped vertical cross-section, four guiderollers 163 are provided on the inside of vertical right and left sideplates 162a of the sliding table 162 with interposition of a certainspace in Z1 and Z2 directions, four guide grooves 164 are formed onright and left both sides 145b of the disc tray 145 with interpositionof a certain space in Z1 and Z2 directions, and the four guide rollers163 are inserted slidably in Z1 and Z2 directions in the four guidegrooves 164. The disc table 146 is supported at a certain height withthe slide table 162 above the disc tray 145, the disc table 146 isassembled slidably combined with the sliding table 162 in the range(within the range of length of the guide groove 164) in Z1 and Z2directions. A limiter spring 167 consisting of a tension spring isattached between a pair of spring stoppers 165 and 166 formed solidly onthe top side of the disc tray 145 and the bottom side of the slidingtable 162, the disc table 146 is forced in Z1 direction slidingly ontothe disc tray 145, and the four guide rollers 163 are positioned atZ1-side end 164 of the four guide grooves 164.

The pair of positioning pins 147 are planted vertically on the bottom144c of the dust proofing box 144 at both X1 and X2 sides of the disctray 145, and a tapered groove 168 is formed at the top of these pair ofpositioning pins. At both X1 and X2-side ends of the disc table 146, aV-shaped groove 169, which is engaged to contact from Z1 direction tothe tapered groove 168, and step 170 are formed.

Accordingly, by using this limiter mechanism 161, as illustrated in FIG.52 and FIG. 53, the disc tray 145 is inserted from Z1 direction in thedisc-in-out port 7, just before the locking pin 150 is locked with theelectromagnetic lock mechanism 148 the V-shaped groove 169 of the disctable 146 and the step 170 are engaged with pressure against the limiterspring 167 from Z1 direction in the tapered groove 168 of the pair ofpositioning pin 147 as illustrated in FIG. 54 and FIG. 53. The disctable 146 is positioned accurately for X1 and X2 directions, Y1 and Y2directions, and Z1 and Z2 directions, and a disc 3 is positionedaccurately on the center P12 of the hand 8.

Immediately afterwards, the disc tray 145 is slightly slid in Z1direction to the disc table 146 against the limiter spring 167, and thelocking pin 150 is locked with the electro-magnetic lock mechanism 148.The disc table 146 is maintained forced from Z1 direction against thepair of positioning pin 148.

Accordingly by using this disc-in-out port 7, the long sliding stroke ofthe disc tray 145 using the tray sliding mechanism 155 allows a disc 3to be charged or discharged easily, and also the pair of positioningpins 147 and the limiter mechanism 168 allow a disc to be positionedaccurately at the center P12 of the hand 8, thus a disc 3 is transferredsmoothly in X1 and X2 directions between the disc-in-out port 7 and thecarrier 9 by the hand 8.

Description of Sealed Structure of Cable Insertion on the Partition of aChanger Body

The sealed structure of cable insertion on the partition 2 of a changerbody 1 is described referring to FIG. 70 and FIG. 71.

As illustrated in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the internal of the changer body1 of this disc changer is divided to the sealed area 33 and unsealedarea 34 with the partition 2. hen a cable 178 is to be connected betweenthe internal of the sealed area 33 and unsealed area 34 through thepartition 2 and 18, the insertion may cause a dust proofing problem inthe sealed area.

As illustrated in FIG. 70 and FIG. 71, an opening 173 is provided at thecable insertion 172 on the partitions 2 and 18, the opening 173 issealed with a connector base plate 174 and dust proofing material 175,which connector base plate 174 and dust proofing material 175 aresecured on the partitions 2 and 18 with a plurality of screws 176. Theconnector insertion 172 of the sealed area 33 is easily maintained dustproofing by structuring the connection in which a plurality ofconnectors 177 is provided on the connector base plate 174 on bothsealed area 33 and unsealed area 34 sides of the connector base plate174, and a plurality of cables are connected to the connectors 177. Thisconnector base plate 174 is provided in the position, for example, shownin FIG. 16.

Description of a Controlling Circuit of the Carrier and Hand of a DiscChanger

A controlling circuit of the carrier 9 and the hand 8 of a disc changeris described referring to FIG. 72.

The drive circuit 192 of the motor 48 for driving the carrier in Ydirection and of the motor 64 for driving the hand 8 in X direction iscontrolled by the CPU 195, which is a centralized controlling circuit.Output pulse from the encoder 180 for measuring the moved distance in Ydirection of the carrier 9 and the encoder 181 for measuring the moveddistance in X direction of the hand 8 is counted by the counter 191 and193, and subsequently supplied to the CPU 195.

In the carrier 9, the hand origin sensor 182 for detecting the origin ofthe hand 8, the hand protrusion sensor 183 for detecting protrusion ofthe hand 8 from the internal of the carrier 9 to the disc rack board 4side, disc drive 6 side, and disc-in-out port side, the carrier originsensor 184 for detecting the origin of the carrier 9, a pair of topbottom initial sensors 185 for detecting the position in Y direction ofa disc rack board 4, the initial sensor 187 for detecting the positionof a disc drive 6 and the disc-in-out port 7 in Y direction, the discdetection sensor 188 for detection the existence of a disc 3 on the discrack board, and the disc board detecting sensor for detecting theposition of a disc rack board 4 in X direction. Output from thesesensors 182 to 189 is supplied to the CPU 195 through the interface 194.

The CPU 195 supplies the moved distance of carrier 9 in Y direction andthe moved distance of the hand 8 in X direction measured by the encoders180 and 181 to the memory circuit 196, the data are stored in the memory196. The CPU controls the drive circuit 192 responding to the detectedinformation from the sensors 182 to 189, and the detected informationfrom sensors 182 to 189 is supplied to the memory circuit 196.

The encoder 180 for measuring the moved distance of the carrier 9 in Ydirection is constituted of an encoder combined with the motor 48 asillustrated in FIG. 23.

The encoder 181 for measuring the moved distance of the hand 8 in Xdirection is constituted of an encoder combined with the motor 64 asillustrated in FIG. 25.

The hand origin sensor 182 for detecting the origin of the hand 8 ismounted on the carrier 9 as illustrated in FIG. 25 and FIG. 27, andconstituted of a light transmission sensor which detects the shutting oflight by the shutter plate 198 combined with the slide plate 56 of theslide unit 52.

The hand protrusion sensor 183 is mounted on the carrier 9 asillustrated in FIG. 25 and FIG. 27, and constituted of a lighttransmission sensor which detects both X1 and X2-side ends of theshutter plate 198 in cooperation with the hand origin sensor 182.

The carrier origin sensor 184 for detecting the origin of the carrier 9in Y direction is mounted on the carrier 9 as illustrated in FIG. 14 and25, and constituted of a light transmission sensor which detects theshutting of light by the shutter plate 199 mounted on the partition.

The pair of top and bottom initial sensors 185 and 186 for detecting theposition of a disc rack board 4 in Y direction is mounted on the carrier9 as illustrated in FIG. 25 and FIG. 57, and constituted respectively ofa light transmission sensor which detects the shutting of light by theshutter plate 200, which is the object to be detected by the sensor,mounted on the side face of the end 4c of all disc rack boards 4linearly in Y direction.

The initial sensor 187 for detecting the position of a disc drive 6 andthe disc-in-out port 7 in Y direction is mounted on the carrier 9 asillustrated in FIG. 25, constituted of a light reflection sensor whichreceives light reflected from the reflecting plate 201 having the hole201a to be detected.

The disc detecting sensor 188 for detecting the existence of a disc onthe disc rack board is mounted on the carrier 9 as illustrated in FIG.25, constituted of a light transmission sensor comprising alight-emitting element 188a and a light-receiving element 188b.

The disc rack board position detecting sensor 189 for detecting theposition of a disc rack board 4 in X direction is mounted on a boardbase 11 as illustrated in FIG. 58 to FIG. 60, and constituted of a lighttransmission sensor which detects the shutting of light by the shutterplate 203 mounted on the one end of the hand main member 26 of the hand8.

Description of Disc Detecting Device on a Disc Rack Board

A disc detecting device for detecting the existence of a disc placedflat on a disc rack board 4 is described referring to FIG. 25, FIG. 28,FIG. 29, and FIG. 75.

The light transmission hole 202 comprises a slot parallel to Z1 and Z2directions provided at the center on the end 4c of a disc rack board 4.The light transmission hole 202 is open when no disc 3 is placed on thedisc rack board 4 as illustrated in FIG. 28 and closed when a disc 3 isplaced flat on the disc rack board 4 as illustrated in FIG. 29.

The disc detecting sensor 188 comprising a light-emitting element 188aand a light-receiving element 188b mounted on the carrier 9 arestructured in an arrangement in which the light-emitting element 188aand a light-receiving element are provided facing each other on both Z1and Z2 sides of the disc rack board 4 with a certain angle to Y1 and Y2directions and in parallel to Z1 and Z2 directions so as that light f1is allowed to pass through the light transmission hole 202 fromvertically slant direction between an upper and lower disc rack boards4.

Therefore, by using this disc detecting device, as illustrated inflowcharts of FIG. 72 and FIG. 75, the carrier 9 is moved by the motor48 in Y1 or Y2 direction, the moved distance of the carrier 9 ismeasured by the encoder 180 of the motor 48, the encoder pulse iscounted by the counter 191, and supplied to the CPU 195, and thus theposition of each disc rack board 4 is detected successively.

The disc detecting sensor 188 checks the existence of a disc 3successively for disc rack boards 4. The information of "disc provided"or "disc not provided" on each disc rack board 4 is stored in the memorycircuit 196 through the CPU 195. When disc checking on all one hundreddisc rack boards 4 is finished, the operation is completed.

In this case, if there is no disc 3 on the disc rack board 4 asillustrated in FIG. 28, light f1 emitted from the light-emitting element188a passes through the light transmission hole 202 and is received bythe light-receiving element 188b, the disc detecting sensor 188 isturned on, and "disc not provided" is detected.

If there is a disc 3 placed flat on the disc rack board 4 as illustratedin FIG. 29, light f1 emitted from the light-emitting element 188a isintercepted by the disc 3, and the light is not received by thelight-receiving element 188b, the disc detecting sensor is turned off,and "disc provided" is detected.

By using this disc detecting device, the existence of a bare disc 3 isdetected accurately even with some deviation of the bare disc 3 on adisc rack board 4.

Description of Y-position Detecting Device of a Disc Rack Board

A device for detecting the position of a disc rack board 4 in Ydirection is described referring to FIG. 25, FIG. 28, FIG. 29, FIG. 57,FIG. 72, and FIG. 73.

Shutter plates 200, each of which is an object to be detected, areprovided vertically in Y direction linearly on the end face 4c of thefree end of each disc rack board 4 mounted with cantilevered structureon a board base 11. These shutter plates 200 are formed solidly with theside of the disc support 23 of synthetic resin mounted on each disc rackboard 4, the width of a shutter plate 200 in Y direction is formed assmall as slightly larger than the thickness of each disc rack board 4.

When Y-position of a disc rack board 4 is to be detected, the carrier 9is moved to Y1 or Y2 direction by the motor 48 to detect the origin in Ydirection of the carrier 9 with aid of the carrier origin sensor 184 asillustrated in the control circuit of FIG. 72 and the flowchart of FIG.73.

Then, the carrier 9 is moved from the origin to Y1 or Y2 direction bythe motor 48, the moved distance of the carrier 9 is measured by theencoder 181 of the motor 48, and the encoder pulse is counted by thecounter 191.

Either initial sensor 185 and/or initial sensor 186 detect Y-position ofeach shutter plate 200 of each disc rack board 4 successively, when, thedevice measures Y-position of each disc rack board 4 corresponding tothe encoder pulse value which is obtained when the initial sensors 185and 186 detect Y-position of each shutter plate 200 successively, theencoder pulse values are stored successively in the memory circuit 196through the CPU 195.

After finishing of Y-position detection for all one hundred disc rackboards 4 and attaining of the encoder pulse value to a prescribed value,the carrier 9 is returned to the origin, and the operation is completed.

During practical use (for automatic change of a disc 3), based onY-position information of all one hundred disc rack boards 4 stored inthe memory circuit 196, the device controls the positioning of the hand8 to a disc rack board 4.

Accordingly by using this Y-position detecting device of a disc rackboard 4, the initial sensors 185 and 186 detect Y-position of shutterplates 200 mounted on the end 4c of each disc rack board 4, thereby, theabsolute position in Y direction of the end 4c of each disc rack board 4is detected directly and accurately.

Therefore, Y-position of the end 4c of each disc rack board 4 isdetected accurately, based on this detected information, a disc 3 istransferred safely and accurately between each disc rack board 4 and thecarrier 9 by the hand 8 in X2 and X2 direction.

Especially in the structure of this disc changer, all one hundred discrack boards 4 are cantilevered at the base 4b to attach to a board base11 and, based on this structure, free ends 4c are inherently easy to bedisplaced, therefore, it is important for the device to detectY-position of the end 4c of each disc rack board 4 accurately withouterror.

Mounting of the initial sensors 185 and 186 on the carrier 9 andmounting of the shutter plates 200 on all one hundred disc rack boards 4allow the number of initial sensors 185 and 186 to be reduced, and thecost down is possible. The solid molding of a disc support 23 with eachshutter plate 200 using synthetic resin allows the number of parts andassembling work to be reduced, and the cost down is possible.

The initial sensor may be constituted of a light-reflecting sensor inwhich detecting object provided on a disc rack board 4 is replaced witha light-reflecting plate.

Description of X-position Detecting Device of the Carrier and a DiscRack Board

A position detecting device of the carrier 9 and disc rack board 4 in Xdirection is described referring to FIG. 25, FIG. 58 to FIG. 60, FIG.72, and FIG. 74.

The origin P1 of the hand 8 in the carrier 9 is detected by thecombination of the hand origin sensor 182 and a detecting shutter plate198. A light-transmission type disc rack board position detection sensor189 is mounted on the end face of the center in Y direction of verticalprovided four board bases 11, the detecting shutter plate 203 is mountedon the X1-side end of one hand main member 26 of the hand 8.

For detecting X-position of the carrier 9 and a disc rack board 4, thecarrier 9 is moved to Y1 or Y2 direction to position at the first discrack board position sensor 189 of the four vertically provided disc rackboard position sensors, and at the position the carrier 9 is stopped asillustrated in the control circuit of FIG. 27 and in the flowchart ofFIG. 74.

The hand 8 is moved to the origin P1 on the carrier 9 and detected bythe hand origin sensor 182 as illustrated in FIG. 58. hen, the shutterplate 203 moves to the origin P100.

Then, the hand 8 is move in X1 direction by the motor 64, the moveddistance from the origin P1 to X1 direction of the hand 8 is measured bythe encoder 181, the encoder pulse is counted by the counter 193 andsupplied to the CPU 195.

As illustrated in FIG. 59, the actual moved distance L1 of the hand 8from the origin P100 to the disc rack detecting position P101, where theshutter plate 203 is detected by the disc position detecting sensor 189,is measured by the encoder pulse value, and the value is stored in thememory circuit 196 through the CPU 195.

The distance L2 between the origin P1 in the carrier 9 of the hand 8 andthe central position P2 of the disc rack board 4 is measured based onthe actual moved distance L1 of the hand 8.

The position detecting operation of the carrier 9 and a disc rack board4 is conducted on the vertically provided four disc rack board positionsensor 189 successively, and the operation is completed.

During actual operation (changing automatically a disc 3), based on theinformation stored in the memory circuit 196, the moved distance L1 inX1 and X2 directions of the hand 8 between the carrier 9 and a disc rackboard 4 is set up respectively for the vertically provided four boardbases 11 block-wise, and a disc 3 is transferred in X1 and X2 directionsbetween the disc rack board 4 and the carrier 9.

Accordingly by using this X-position detecting device for the carrier 9and a disc rack board 4, based on the measured actual moved distance L1of the hand 8 between the hand origin sensor 182 and the disc rack boardposition detecting sensor 189, the distance L2 between the carrier 9 andthe disc rack board 4 is measured and stored, and based on the storedinformation the moved distance L1 of the hand 8 between the carrier 9and the disc rack board 4 is set up for operation, thus even if there isscattering of the distance between the carrier 9 and disc rack board 4,the moved distance L1 of the hand 8 is set up accurately correspondingto the scattering for operation.

Therefore, a disc 3 is transferred between the carrier 9 and a disc rackboard 4 consistently, safely, and accurately regardless of scattering ofthe distance between the carrier 9 and a disc rack board 4.

The requirement of accurate setting of the distance between the carrier9 and a disc rack board 4 is needless, the precise manufacturing andassembling of parts are alleviated, the precise gap adjusting work forassembling is reduced, and these advantages lead to the significant costdown.

It is not necessary to provide disc rack board position detectingsensors 189 on all one hundred disc rack boards 4, but only four discrack board position detecting sensors 189 are provided on four blockedvertically provided board bases 11, thus the number of disc rack boardposition detecting sensors 189 is significantly reduced.

A hand origin sensor 182 and disc rack board position detecting sensor189 may be replaced with a light-reflecting type sensor.

Description of Protrusion Detection of the Hand

As illustrated in FIG. 25, FIG. 27, and FIG. 72, the protrusion of thehand 8 from the carrier 9 to the disc rack board 4 side, disc drive 6side, and disc-in-out port 7 side is detected as well as the protrusiondirection by the detecting shutter plate 198 which is moved in X1 and X2directions synchronously with the hand 8, the hand protrusion sensor 183which is turned on or off with the shutter plate 198, and the handorigin sensor 182, and the protrusion information is stored in thememory circuit 196 through the CPU 195.

Description of Y-position Detecting Device of a Disc Drive

Y-position detecting device of a disc drive 6 and the disc-in-out port 7by the carrier 9 is described referring to FIG. 25, FIG. 66, FIG. 72,and FIG. 76.

Total nine detecting light-reflecting plates 201 which are detected bythe initial sensor 187 which is a light-reflecting sensor mounted on thecarrier 9 are mounted on eight disc drive 6 and on disc-in-out port 7.

For detecting Y-position of a disc drive 6 and disc-in-out port 7, thecarrier 9 is moved from the origin to Y1 or Y2 direction, the moveddistance is measured by the encoder 180 of the motor 48, and the encoderpulse is counted by the counter 191 to supply to the CPU 195 asillustrated in the control circuit of FIG. 72 and in the flowchart ofFIG. 76.

Each light-reflecting plate 201 of each disc drive 6 and the disc-in-outport 7 is detected successively by the initial sensor 187, the encoderpulse value is stored in the memory circuit 196 through the CPU 195successively. When the detection of nine light-reflecting plates 201 isfinished and the encoder pulse is attained to a prescribed value, thecarrier 9 is moved to the origin and the operation is completed.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 33 and FIG. 34, a recorder and/orregenerator 5 of a disc drive 6 is contained in a dust proofing box 89,a dust proofing box 89 is supported elastically by four dampers 91 onthe bottom chassis 92 of the body enclosure 88, that is, the recorderand/or regenerator 5 is floating.

As illustrated in FIG. 66 and FIG. 67, a light-reflecting plate 201 ismounted directly on a mechanical chassis 90 which is the standardposition in a dust proofing box 89 with a bracket, the light-reflectingplate 201 is provided on a some place of a disc gate 15, and thelight-reflecting plate 201 is detected by the initial sensor 187.

As the result, the initial sensor 187 detects Y-position of a recorderand/or regenerator 5 directly and accurately regardless of the deviationof Y-position of a recorder and/or regenerator 5 due to thedeterioration of dampers with time in the internal of each disc drive 6in the body enclosure 88. Therefore, the carrier 9 is positionedaccurately to a recorder and/or regenerator 5, a disc 3 is transferredconsistently and stably between a recorder and/or regenerator 5 and thecarrier 9 by the hand 8. The accuracy of the mechanical chassis 90 of adust proofing box 89 is high, direct mounting of a light-reflectingplate 201 on the mechanical chassis allows the relative position oflight-reflecting plate 201 to the standard position to be detectedaccurately.

Description of Control Device for Starting of Power Supply

A control device of the carrier 9 and hand 8 for starting up of a discchanger is described referring to FIG. 23, FIG. 24, FIG. 26, FIG. 26,FIG. 27, FIG. 61 to FIG. 65, FIG. 72, and FIG. 77.

This control device is provided with a carrier mechanism 13, hand movingmechanism 14, hand origin sensor 18 and protrusion sensor 183 which arethe first sensor for detecting the relative position of the hand 8 tothe carrier 9, a pair of vertically provided initial sensors 185 and 186which are the second sensor for detecting the relative position to adisc rack board 4, initial sensor 187 which is the third sensor fordetecting the relative position of the hand 8 to a disc drive 6, andcontrol circuit using the CPU 195.

For starting up of the power supply of the disc changer, as illustratedin the control circuit of FIG. 72 and in the flowchart of FIG. 77, theprotrusion of the hand 8 to the disc rack board 4 side or disc drive 6side is detected by the hand origin sensor 182 and hand protrusionsensor 184 upon switching on.

If the hand 8 protrudes to the disc rack board 4 side, the pair ofvertical provided initial sensors 185 and 186 detects the open or closeof the shutter plate 200.

In the case that either initial sensors 185 and 186 are open as shown inFIG. 61A, or in the case that the upper initial sensor 185 is close andlower initial sensor 186 is open as shown in FIG. 61B, the hand ispositioned too high to the disc rack board 4, to avoid the interferenceof the disc rack board 4 just above the hand 8, the hand 8 is moveddownward and then withdrawn to the origin in X direction.

In the case that either upper and lower initial sensors 185 and 186 areclose as shown in FIG. 62A, the hand 8 is staying in a safe regionbetween upper and lower disc rack boards 4, the hand 8 is withdrawn tothe original in the carrier 9 directly in X direction.

In the case that the upper initial sensor 185 is open and the lowerinitial sensor 186 is close as shown in FIG. 26B, the hand 8 ispositioned too low, to avoid the interference of the disc rack board 4just under the hand 8, the hand 8 is moved upward and then withdrawn tothe origin in X direction.

When the hand 8 protrudes to the disc drive 6 side or disc-in-out port 7side, the device checks the existence of light f2 which is emitted fromthe initial sensor 187 and reflected by the light-reflecting plate 201.

In this case, if the initial sensor 187 detects no reflected light f2 asshown in FIG. 63A and FIG. 64B, the hand 8 is moved downward to receivereflected light f2 of the initial sensor 187 at the top edge 201b or thebottom edge 201c of the hole 201a of the light-reflecting plate 201 asshown in FIG. 63B and FIG. 64A, then the hand 8 is withdrawn to theorigin in the carrier 9 in X direction.

If the initial sensor 187 detects the reflected light f2 as shown inFIG. 64A and FIG. 65B, the hand 8 is moved upward so as that the upperedge 201b of the light-reflecting plate 201 or lower edge 201c of thehole 201a comes to the light f2, then, the hand 8 is withdrawn to theorigin in the carrier 9 in X direction.

Thereby, the hand 8 is withdrawn to the carrier 9 safely within a safecertain height range between the upper edge 201b of the light-reflectingplate 201 and the lower edge 201c of the hole 201a. After safe returningof the hand 8 to the carrier 9, the carrier 9 is moved to the origin inY direction.

If the carrier 9 is moved in Y direction directly as the hand 8protrudes to the disc drive 6 side or the disc-in-out port 7 side, thedisc 3 and the device is damaged, but according this device structuredas described herein above a disc 3 and the device are prevented fromdamaging. Therefore, if changing operation of a disc 3 is interrupteddue to, for example, power supply failure, when power supply isrestarted, the hand 8 is returned once to the origin in the carrier 9consistently, and then the carrier 9 is returned safely to the origin inY direction for initialization.

If the hand 8 protrudes neither to the disc rack board 4 side and thedisc drive 6 side at power start, the carrier 9 is moved directly to theorigin in Y direction.

Description of a Device for Correction of Sensor Error

A device for correction of error due to the scattering of optical axisof a sensor referring to FIG. 68, FIG. 69, FIG. 72, and FIG. 78.

As illustrated in FIGS. 69A, 69B, and 69C, when a detectinglight-reflecting plate 201 is detected by the initial sensor 187 whichis a light-reflecting type sensor mounted on the carrier 9 to positionthe carrier 9 to a disc drive 6 or others, the scattering of the opticalaxis f2 of the initial sensor 187 from the standard position P104 causesthe scattering ΔL of stop position of the carrier 9 from the standardstop position P104.

To prevent the scattering, as illustrated in FIG. 68, a stopper 206 isprovided at the standard position P103 on the moving passage 10 of thecarrier 9, a detecting standard light-reflecting plate 207 is providedat the position with interposition of a certain distance L3 to thestandard position P103 along the moving passage 10, the distance L3 isstored in the memory circuit 196.

When starting, as illustrated in the control circuit of FIG. 72 and inthe flowchart of FIG. 78, the carrier 9 is moved in Y2 direction tocontact with the stopper 206 in FIG. 68, and the carrier 9 is positionat the standard position P103.

Then, the carrier 9 is moved reversely to Y1 direction andsimultaneously the moved distance of the carrier 9 is measured by theencoder 180, the encoder pulse is counted by the counter 191, andsupplied to the CPU 195.

The encoder pulse value is detected when the initial sensor 187 detectsthe standard light-reflecting plate 207, and actual moved distance L2 ofthe carrier 9 from the standard position P102 to the standardlight-reflecting plate 207 is calculated.

The CPU 195 compares the actual moved distance L2 and L3 stored in thememory 196, and the difference ΔL between the distance L3 and actualmoved distance L3 is detected. he difference ΔL is the scattering(error) of the optical axis f2 of the initial sensor 187.

The difference ΔL is stored in the memory circuit 196 as the scatteringof the optical axis f2 of the initial sensor 187, and when the initialsensor 187 detects a detecting light-reflecting plate 201 of a discdrive 6 or the disc-in-out port 7 to stop the carrier 9, the stopposition of the carrier 9 is corrected by the difference ΔL always inoperation.

As the result, the carrier 9 is stopped at a prescribed positionconsistently and accurately regardless of scattering of the optical axisf2 of the initial sensor 187, and thus a disc is changed accuratelyautomatically.

Therefore, the accuracy of mounting position of the initial sensor 187on the carrier 9 and adjusting of the mounting position of initialsensor 187 is allowed to be easy, and manufacturing and assembling ofinitial sensors become easier.

Embodiments of the present invention are described hereinbefore, theinvention by no means restricted to these embodiments, variousmodifications may be possible based on the scope of the invention.

The disc changer in accordance with the present invention structured asdescribed hereinbefore exhibits following effects.

The number of discs mounted on the disc changer is significantlyincreased because the volume of a bare disc is smaller significantlythan that of a cartridge.

The driving of the carrier and the hand is easy, the simple structureleads to the cost down, the space for carrier moving is reduced, and thedisc changer is minimized in size, because the carrier moves only in onedirection and also the hand moves on the carrier only in one direction.

The charging and discharging of a bare disc is easy during operation ofthe disc changer, because a disc-in-out port for charging or discharginga bare disc to or from the external of the changer body is provided inthe same arrangement of the disc drives.

A bare disc is transferred very lightly and quickly by the hand betweena disc rack board and the carrier and between a disc drive and thecarrier at both ends of the carrier while the carrier is movingvertically, because the passage of the carrier is provided vertically,and the disc rack boards and the disc drives are provided, facing eachother to form stacks, respectively on both sides of the passage of thecarrier. Accordingly, a bare disc is changed automatically between adisc rack board and a disc drive in a short time.

Comparing with dust-proof remediation of conventional disc changers, theinstallation of a fan is needless, the structure is simplified, the costis reduced, the dusting on a disc when starting up in the disc changerdue to diffusion of dust by a fan is eliminated, and the penetration ofdust from the external is prevented completely by the sealed structure,because in the sealed area formed in the disc changer body, disc rackboards, a carrier moving passage, and recorders and/or regenerators,which have sealed structures in disc drives, are provided. Therefore,the dusting on discs is prevented, time-consuming periodical maintenancework such as filter change and cleaning is needless, and the runningcost is low.

The temperature rising in the sealed area in the disc changer body isprevented because main heat generating sources are provided on theunsealed area in the disc changer body, and the dust proofing of discsand air-cooling of main heat generating sources are effective because nodust diffusion in the sealed area is caused regardless of air-cooling ofmain heat generating sources in the unsealed area.

Recorders and/or regenerators in disc drives are maintained dust-proofeasily because a partition is provided to divide the internal of thedisc changer body to the sealed area and the unsealed area, one or moreof connecting gates are provided on the partition, and recorders and/orregenerators contained in the sealed structure in one or more of discdrives provided in the unsealed area are connected air-tightly to theconnecting gates with interposition of dust-proof material.

Recorders and/or regenerators in disc drives are maintained dust-proofand vibration-proof because a dust-proof box is provided in each discdrive, a recorder and/or regenerator is contained in the dust-proof box,the dust-proof box is supported elastically on dampers for preventingvibration, the dust-proof box and the partition is connected air-tightlywith elastic dust-proof material at the periphery of the connectinggate.

The sealed area in the internal of the disc changer body is maintaineddust-proof completely because for connecting electrically the sealedarea and the unsealed area with cables, connector plates having sealedstructure are fixed on the partition at cable insertions, and cables areconnected to connectors provided on both sides of the connector plates.

A disc is not damaged, time for transferring a disc is not long,scattering of stopping position of a disc due to slipping of the disc isprevented, and the structure of a disc changer of the present inventionis simple, different from conventional disc changers having a structure,for example, in which a disc is sandwiched between rollers or beltsdriven by a motor and moved and transferred between a carrier and a discrack board and between a carrier and disc drive. Therefore the life of adisc is improved, the accuracy of stopping position of a disc isimproved, the disc changing between the carrier and a disc rack boardand between the carrier and a disc drive is carried out at a high speed,safely, and accurately, thus the automatic changing operation of a discto a disc drive is carried out in a very short time.

While it is not required to withdraw the hand to a disc rack board anddisc drive with a long stroke and the withdrawing distance of the handto a disc rack board and disc drive is short, a disc is transferred withsupporting stably at the periphery of the disc by the had, because thehand is structured so as to transfer a disc in the horizontal directionsupporting the disc at the periphery thereof on both sides in thedirection perpendicular to the moving direction of the hand. Therefore,a disc is transferred between the carrier and a disc rack board andbetween the carrier and a disc drive stably and quickly, thus the timefor automatic changing of a disc is significantly shortened. When a discis withdrawn from a disc rack board at one end of the carrier and thedisc is delivered to a disc drive at another opposite end of thecarrier, the passing of a disc from one hand to the other is notrequired, and a disc which is withdrawn from a disc rack board isdirectly delivered to a disc drive quickly, because the hand transfers adisc in the horizontal direction with supporting the disc at theperiphery thereof on both sides in the direction perpendicular to themoving direction of the hand. Therefore, the time for automatic changingof a disc is significantly shortened.

The recording area of a disc is prevented from damaging and also a discis positioned on a disc rack board accurately at the center regardlessof the size of recording area, because the plane for placing a discthereon of a disc support provided on a plurality of vertically provideddisc rack board is formed so as to be tapered with sleeper inclinationgradually toward the center of the disc and the periphery of a bare discis placed on the tapered plane from the above. A disc is placed on adisc rack board stably and horizontally and the disc positioning is notaffected by vibration, because the periphery of a disc is placedhorizontally on tapered planes. Therefore, a disc is transferred betweenthe carrier and a disc rack board smoothly and consistently.

A disc will not fall down from a disc rack board even when vibrated,because the vertical section which rises vertically from the peripheryof the disc supporting section is provided on the disc support.

The disc support is minimized in size, and the small sized disc supportfavors in respects of the cost and space.

The disc is centered accurately on the hand, transferred by the handbetween the carrier and a disc rack board and between the carrier and adisc drive accurately, smoothly, and consistently, while the recordingarea of a disc supported on the hand is prevented from damaging.

The falling down of a disc from the hand due to vibration is preventedduring moving of the disc on the hand, because the vertical sectionwhich rises vertically from the periphery of the disc supporting sectionis provided on the disc support.

A disc holder is minimized in size, the minimized disc holder favors inrespects of the cost and space, and favors in respect of light weight,thus allows the hand to move at high speed and allows the automaticchanging of a disc to be shortened.

By using the simple two axis direction control comprising the movementcontrol in vertical direction of the carrier by the carrier movingmechanism and the movement control in horizontal direction of the handby the hand moving mechanism, a disc is automatically changed verysimply to a disc drive.

The hand moving mechanism is made simple, small sized, light weight, andcheep in cost, and the moving stroke in horizontal direction of the handis made long. Therefore, the high speed moving of the carrier ispossible, and devices which have different size in the directionparallel to the moving passage of the carrier are provided easily.

Even if, under unusual conditions such as emergency halt of high speedmotion of a disc by the carrier to happen to exceed the acceleration ofgravity of the disc, a disc is prevented from floating and falling downand the safety is improved, because the disc brace is provided forpreventing a disc on the hand from jumping up from the hand and fallingdown. The disc brace with simple structure is only provided on thecarrier, the cost for providing the disc brace is low, it is notrequired to clamp a disc for preventing the disc from falling down,thereby the disc is prevented from damaging.

The number of sensors for detecting the existence of a disc on aplurality of disc rack boards provided vertically is reducedsignificantly to lead the significantly reduced cost.

The structure of sensing mechanism is so simple in which simply a sensoris mounted on the carrier and light transmission holes are formed on aplurality of disc rack boards provided vertically, thereby the cost isreduced, and in addition, the distance between a plurality of disc rackboards provided vertically is made small significantly, thereby, thedisc changer is minimized significantly by saving the space, such spacesaving is impossible for conventional structure in which a sensor ismounted individually on a plurality of disc rack boards providedvertically.

A disc on a disc rack board is detected accurately and consistently evenif the disc is positioned slightly deviated from the center on the discrack board, because when light transmission holes on a plurality of discrack board provided vertically is detected from the slant direction bythe sensor system comprising a light-emitting element andlight-receiving elements, the existence of a disc on a plurality of discrack boards provided vertically is detected depending on shielding ofthe light or passing the light corresponding to the existence or noexistence of the disc respectively.

When a bare disc is used as recording medium, the existence of the baredisc is detected accurately, because the light from the sensor isshielded by the upper side or lower side of the disc for opening andclosing the light-transmission holes of a plurality of disc rack boardsprovided vertically, that is, it is not required that a light-reflectingtype sensor which requires the light reflection at the end of therecording medium is used.

The carrier is moved smoothly without interference to the carrier by aplurality of disc rack boards provided vertically.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disc changer comprising:a plurality of discrack boards provided vertically for holding a plurality of bare discsfor recording and/or regeneration; at least one disc drive for recordingand/or regenerating a bare disc of said plurality of bare discs providedfacing said plurality of disc rack boards; a carrier which moves in onlyone direction in a space defined between said plurality of disc rackboards and said at least one disc drive; and a hand mounted on saidcarrier which moves only in the direction perpendicular to the movingdirection of the carrier for transferring in only one direction saidbare disc between a disc rack board of said plurality of disc rackboards and said carrier and between said at least one disc drive andsaid carrier; wherein the inside of the disc changer is divided into asealed area and an unsealed area, said plurality of disc rack boards andthe space provided for passage of said carrier are provided in saidsealed area, said at least one disc drive is provided in said unsealedarea, a recorder and/or regenerator in said at least one disc drive isformed in a structure sealed from said unsealed area, but accessible tosaid sealed area, and main heat generating sources are provided in saidunsealed area.
 2. The disc changer as claimed in claim 1, wherein thedisc changer comprises a partition for dividing the inside of said discchanger into said sealed area and said unsealed area, the recorderand/or regenerator of said at least one disc drive contained in thestructure sealed from said unsealed area is provided in said unsealedarea and is connected in an air-tight manner through connecting gates tosaid sealed area with interposition of dust-proof material.
 3. The discchanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein a dust-proof box having astructure sealed from said unsealed area is provided around said atleast one disc drive, said dust-proof box is supported elastically bydampers for vibration insulation, and the periphery of said connectinggate is connected in said air-tight manner with flexible dust-proofmaterial between said dust-proof box and said partition.
 4. The discchanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein a connector plate is fixed on thepartition for electrically connecting said sealed area and said unsealedarea wherein cables are connected to both sides of the connector plateusing connectors.
 5. The disc changer as claimed in claim 1, wherein adisc-in-out port for charging and discharging said bare disc is providedin said unsealed area, and the disc-in-out port is formed with astructure sealed from said unsealed area and is connected to said sealedarea.